Victoria Winner Hits the Jackpot While Grocery Shopping

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 9, 2012) - Victoria resident, Penny Nabokov, was grocery shopping when she decided to check her lottery ticket. It was at that moment when she learned about the $1 million winning MAXMILLION ticket she was holding.

"There was chaotic excitement at the grocery store when I checked the ticket," said Nabokov. "I think the tomato juice I was buying is still sitting there at the counter where I discovered the win."

The winning ticket matched all seven numbers on the November 2 LOTTO MAX draw.

Nabokov says she isn't a regular buyer of lottery tickets but plays LOTTO MAX when the jackpots are big.

"I saw all the zeros on the machine," said Nabokov. "Everyone was jumping around. The staff at Thrifty's escorted me outside to my car. I thought that was very nice of them."

The winning ticket was purchased at the lottery retailer in Tillicum Centre and validated at the Thrifty Foods in Saanich Centre.

Plans for the win include paying off her mortgage, sharing with family and replacing her 25-year-old car.

Over a five-week period starting on the October 5 LOTTO MAX draw, 60 MAXMILLION prizes were won across Canada, including 11 in B.C.

The $50 million jackpot was also won on the November 2 draw. A ticket sold in Bulkley Valley-Stikine won a $25 million share of the jackpot. The winning ticket holder has yet to come forward.

LOTTO MAX can be played at all lottery retail locations and online at www.PlayNow.com, with tickets available until 6 p.m. (PT) on Friday. Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at www.bclc.com.

BCLC is a provincial Crown corporation offering socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating more than $1 billion in revenue to benefit health care, education and community groups across B.C.